Ravens_Sons of Olympia_Reverse Harem Romance

by Helen J Perry

She thought she was adjusting well to the solitude she craved. There was a chance her subconscious latched onto the only living thing she’d interacted with recently, to tell her she wasn’t so suited to life as a solo hermit, after all.

  However, Brenna’s rational thought couldn’t explain everything. Ravens were smart, but they didn’t guide lost travelers out of forests, or give exasperated looks, or respond to English. They were wild; they didn’t invite themselves indoors for breakfast. They just didn’t. And yet…

  This time, Brenna wasn’t afraid of getting lost. She had the time, equipment, and desire to roam further afield for hours. The forest was more beautiful on the inside than it looked mysterious from the outside. Every few steps there was something new to look at.

  Mushrooms grew in stacks on trees, their staggered caps broad and white. Moss covered the ground and cushioned Brenna’s steps. From time to time, she came across small streams or large, stagnant ponds. In those moments in the forest, it felt very much like she’d stepped out of real life and into somewhere different. Brenna didn’t know where exactly. She had a hard time believing somewhere so otherworldly could be on the edge of the town and at the foot of her yard.

  The deeper she traveled into the forest, the stranger it became. Mushrooms with broad, spotted tops grew in clusters. Now and then, Brenna thought she saw them move.

  The oddity of the ravens was just the tip of the iceberg. The whole forest was bizarre in ways she wasn’t able to explain. Only a few feet in and all cell service disappeared, for starters.

  Strangely twisted trees, ferns, mosses, and myriad colorful flowers the like of which Brenna had never seen before seemed to emerge at every turn.

  As she went further, an antsy sense of discomfort that she was very far from home overshadowed her enjoyment of the beauty. A feeling that wasn't at all justified by the distance she could’ve covered in what had still been less than an hour.

  She wasn’t afraid, but she felt apprehensive.

  And then she heard a familiar sound.

  The nearby babble of cascading water.

  Conjured up her dream from the night before, sounding the same.

  The waterfall. The pool.

  It couldn’t be the same one as in her dream. It sounded so near, and Brenna knew she’d soon break through the foliage and see it. Spine straightening, her shoulder blades pinched together. On high alert, Brenna headed toward the sound. She was half hoping it would be the same, and yet, she knew it wasn’t possible.

  After passing a grove of twisted trees, she came across an all-too-familiar patch of soft grass.

  A natural pool bubbled in the distance, its surface disturbed by a waterfall.

  Shocked by what she saw, Brenna recognized each familiar detail.

  The same rock face. The same assembly of ledges and grooves.

  Rocks identical to those she’d seen in her dream now surrounded the pool.

  It wasn’t possible. How could it be possible?

  Brenna had dreamed of this place when she’d never been here before.

  One of them—the one Brenna had climbed out of the pool upon—was still wet.

  His heart shot into her throat.

  “Corbin?” she asked uncertainly. “Are you here?”

  No reply.

  Brenna came to a stop by the pool close to the rock. It couldn’t still be wet from last night’s dream; it must be a coincidence.

  She looked down at it in awe. This couldn’t be real.

  She had dreamed the encounter last night, but she wasn’t dreaming now.

  There had to be a rational explanation, but one didn't immediately come to mind.

  Well, it had to be a coincidence. A really, really big coincidence.

  Brenna ran her tongue across her teeth and swallowed the saliva that built in her mouth.

  She tucked her hands into her back pockets and shook her head.

  She was in over her head.

  After the summer was over, it was a good thing she intended heading back to Riverside. she obviously wasn’t built for small-town living.

  “Okay,” Brenna said out loud. “I’m unsettled. I must’ve come across this place without realizing it earlier and dreamed about it last night.” She knew it wasn't true. She'd never been here. But perhaps she'd seen photographs? Perhaps it had been used as a film location? “But just in case, if there is some force out there, I’m, uh, thanks for keeping me safe. I know I’ve messed up more than once.”

  As she spoke, Brenna looked up. Mist rolled over the pond, originating from the waterfall. There was movement behind it.

  Biting her lip, nervously, Brenna stepped forward. “Corbin, is that you? Victor?”

  Of course, it wasn’t Corbin. It would never be Victor, the man from her dreams. Two men too strikingly handsome to be real. No one would ever live up to that fantasy.

  They weren't behind the waterfall.

  Through the mist, Brenna spotted a group of people standing near the waterfall. Their skin was so pale, the bright sunlight bouncing off the water combined with the white mist almost concealed them. As she focused, she saw them more clearly. Six individuals stood there, pale and beautiful, each of them with hair as black as the silk sheets from Brenna’s dreams. In the light, the hair shone in iridescent blues and greens—sometimes purple. Their bodies were narrow and lithe, almost elf-like. Long, slender limbs led to shapely torsos.

  Two out of the six gathered were women.

  They were all nude.

  Brenna dropped her gaze, unsure what she should do. Speak? Turn away? Leave?

  “I, um…” Brenna didn’t think she could turn around and walk away. All of them were looking her way—there was no doubt that they saw her. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to stare. I was just… looking for someone.”

  Someone a lot like them, but who wasn’t in their midst.

  Brenna tugged at her backpack strap, eager for a distraction. A reason not to look at the beautiful people and only partially because of their nudity. She felt uncomfortable because she didn’t know what she’d stumbled upon. “I think maybe I should just go.”

  Silence followed.

  When she looked up again, all six of the individuals had stepped forward.

  They looked human, but they couldn’t be. They were far too perfect for it. Too beautiful to be human. And she wasn’t sure whether she should fear them.

  “Don’t go,” one man spoke. He stood a little taller and a little broader than the others. “You will stay.” His tone was forceful but not overbearing.

  Brenna dug her heel into the ground, nervous. None of the individuals were armed, but there were six of them, and one of her. If they wanted her to stay, they could restrain her. She didn’t want to force their hand.

  “Okay. I’m staying. Why do you want me to stay?”

  “The Congress have sent us to make representation on their behalf. You will stay to hear it.” The statements were framed as commands but spoken in such a tone, Brenna didn’t feel threatened.

  “I can do that.” Brenna rubbed her arm. The deeper she delved into this mystery, the stranger it became. “I’m listening.”

  “We owe you a tremendous boon.” The spokesman stood a step in front of the others, taking the lead. “Each one of us in the Congress appreciates the kindness you have shown to our prince.”

  Brenna wasn’t sure which to investigate first—his kindness, or the man’s use of the word “prince.” She didn’t have a chance to ask either before the man continued.

  “Each of us will stand for you during a time of need. Our debt to you is great.”

  “I don’t think I understand.”

  “It is not important.” The man stood firm before her. “All you need to know is that the Congress has held court and you have gained our favor. We will be there for you when you need us.”

  Brenna nodded. She didn’t know what else to do. It all seemed too crazy.

  “So are you… are you here because of Corbin or Victor?” Brenna
hazarded a guess. “Am I getting this right?”

  One of the women giggled into her hand. The man beside her nudged her with her elbow. The display of humanity by these ethereal beings helped put Brenna at ease.

  “No,” the man answered decisively, ignoring the woman behind him. “We are here as judges of the Congress. Your actions have brought us here—not anything or anyone exterior to that.”

  Brenna still didn’t understand what was going on. She had scattered pieces to put together but wasn’t sure of any of it. Her dreams. The raven feathers by the waterfall. The raven with the broken wing she’d rescued from the squawking crowd. The very human behaviors the ravens demonstrated. And now here were these humanoid creatures praising her for her kindness.

  This meeting suggested her ravens were also those men Victor and Corbin and perhaps Waldrom. One of those three had been the raven with the broken wing, the one who'd come to breakfast, or who had helped her find her way out of the forest.

  Brenna didn’t know how she knew it; she just did. The kindness comment must’ve been about saving the raven's life when he had an injured wing. Sharing breakfast with a raven and escorting it back to the forest wasn't in the same league of gestures.

  However, there were at least one or two small details that didn’t add up.

  Ravens do not take human form when they feel like it.

  That might not have been a small detail. More like a very large detail.

  Ravens in human form can’t enter people’s dreams and make love to them, either. Brenna felt a red heat run along her skin at the thought.

  Magic doesn’t exist, and Brenna was officially going mad was the more likely explanation, and she knew it. She made a snap decision not to share any of these thoughts with the six nude people in the forest, even if they were simply a delusion.

  “We have delivered our message.” The spokesman stepped back into the crowd. “There is nothing more to say.”

  Brenna nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” Feeling awkward, with no idea where to direct her eyes, she gazed at her own feet like a schoolgirl in trouble. “So am I dismissed?”

  “You are dismissed,” the man replied.

  When Brenna looked up again, the creatures were gone.

  Despite the comforting message of a group of beings sort of being on her side when she needed them, Brenna was still uncomfortable with the whole situation. She decided to return to the house and spend more time with books and civilization, just as she kept promising herself before she lost her mind in this forest completely.

  She retraced her footsteps back through the forest, eager to get away from nature and back to the comfortable safety of her books. Indoors.

  That night, curled up on the couch in the living room, Brenna could've sworn she felt someone watching her. she lifted her head to look out through the patio door, but there was no one there.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Sticking to her resolve, Brenna didn’t head out into the woods over the next few days. She couldn’t ignore them as they surrounded the house on three sides, but she did her best.

  Housework.

  Chores.

  Books.

  She stayed out of the yard as much as possible. It was too hot out there in the burning sunlight, and the glare dazzled too bright for reading.

  She glanced out of the windows frequently, but she didn’t see any signs of ravens.

  Maybe she was crazy.

  Maybe there was something in the water.

  Brenna tried her best to shrug it off.

  Days after her encounter at the waterfall, Brenna decided, if she was crazy or not, she needed more human interaction than she’d gotten the one time she’d made an emergency dash to the grocery store for milk, eggs, and bread.

  She got into the car and headed into town. Destination: Beaumont Library.

  Parking outside the library turned out to be easy and convenient; it was a broad but quiet street, and there was plenty of space. When she stepped out of the car and drew in a deep breath, she realized it felt good to get out into different surroundings. She hadn’t realized the extent to which she'd started to go a little stir crazy, cooped up inside the house.

  That was madness because she had freedom beyond her wildest dreams. A home to live in, a little money, so no urgency to get a job, and all the time to do whatever she wanted for a few months. And the wonderful wild woods to explore… as always, it all came back to the woods.

  The library building looked like any other small town library. Or at least what Brenna believed small town libraries should look like. Brenna didn't expect to find much in there that she hadn’t seen before. Searching for a new book wasn't her goal.

  Sometimes it was just wonderful to be surrounded by books, to touch them, smell them, and be with other people who also loved them.

  This was where Brenna thought she should find a boyfriend, not a bar or a nightclub or a dating app. In a library or a bookshop, she was most likely to find a guy who shared her passion for stories.

  Before stepping toward the library, she looked around.

  Beaumont Junior High School was across the street, while next to the library was a bright display of children’s artwork overshadowing the sign that declared “Fledglings Kindergarten.”

  On the other side of the library, people sat outside under a huge sunshade sipping drinks and chatting with their friends. Broad glass windows let in light and exposed the cheery interior of a small cafe nestled against the library. The sign above the entrance declared West Point Cafe. It was busy inside, which indicated good food and excellent service.

  When she passed through the door, the bell overhead chimed, drawing the attention of the barista behind the counter.

  “Hey there.” The friendly young woman in the brown uniform smiled at her as she made her way over. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “In a second, sure.” Brenna pointed at the menu written on the wall-hung chalkboards. “I need a minute to read.”

  “Take your time; I’m here all day,” she replied brightly and returned to doing something behind the counter just out of view while Brenna scanned the menu.

  The expansive menu had plenty to tempt her. She perused a long list of teas and specialty coffees and a short food menu. She could see herself returning here often.

  From behind a voice said, “You know, the lattes here are top notch.”

  Brenna turned her head to see a cute, young, woman come up beside her. She probably wasn't much younger than Brenna, in fact, but whereas Brenna was old before her time this lady looked like she'd have the outlook of a teenager for many years to come.

  “If you don’t like coffee, or more importantly, if you like chai, the chai latte is to die for. I’ve never had a better one.” The grin on her face was as if she’d shared a great joke or pun, but if she had, it went over Brenna’s head.

  Unsure of the correct response, Brenna settled on, “Thanks.”

  “Happy to share a tip with a stranger.” The young woman winked. “You’re new here aren’t you? I don’t recognize you.”

  Unable to help herself, Brenna looked the girl up and down. She tried to be subtle about it but probably wasn’t, judging by the way the woman placed a hand on her waist and wiggled her hips at exactly that instant.

  She was cute. Her skinny black jeans with ripped and fraying ventilation gashes around the knees and the shabby chic, rainbow t-shirt suggested she was a student and about a couple of years younger than Brenna. Her blond-going-on-white hair going in every direction had a just-gotten-out-of-bed style.

  “You’re right.”

  “I tend to be, at least some of the time.” The blonde raked her teeth against her bottom lip. To Brenna, it came across as flirtatious. “What’s your name and where do you come from?”

  She looked like the type of outgoing party girl that Brenna would have in her friendship circle if she were an outgoing girl herself. She wasn't. Brenna was a bookworm with a degree in literature. She'd happily bef
riend social butterfly types, but the beautiful, outgoing creatures didn't stick around her.

  “Brenna. I’m from Riverside but staying just outside of Beaumont.” And she had no idea why she fed this information freely to a stranger. But the stranger was obviously a friendly local and seemed harmless.

  “I’m Jade. Let me buy you a drink, and we’ll take our conversation to a table.”

  Too stunned to argue, doubt must’ve shown on Brenna's face.

  “It’s a welcome-to-Beaumont drink. And there’s no need to look so scared. You’re perfectly safe with me. I’m a local, and I work a part-time summer job at the library next door.”

  A fellow library person.

  Brenna instantly relaxed once she found out Jade had one of the coolest jobs ever.

  “Fine. I’ll try whatever you recommend. The chai latte, was it?”

  Jade ordered two chai lattes, then led Brenna to a small round table by the windows. The barista busied herself behind the counter.

  “So,” Jade said, “you’re not just passing through?”

  “Not really,” Brenna admitted. “I’m only here temporarily, but I’m not passing through. I’ll be here for the next few months.”

  “Oh. Well.” Jade leaned forward on her elbows. “That’s okay. What’s your story?”

  Pleased to have someone to talk to, Brenna still couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled. Although still technically single, Brenna had a sense of loyalty toward Corbin and Victor. She couldn’t explain that to Jade without revealing her slide into insanity.

  “I’m here to house sit for Dr. Kilpatrick; he has an old house out on the main road. It’s one of the houses set back into the woods.”

  “Yes.” Jade nodded, looking interested.

  “He’s a family friend. Since I just graduated, I figured that I had the free time to do it. When he gets back from Europe, I’m heading back to Riverside.”

  “Oh, Riverside. I'm at college there. When I'm not here.” Jade flashed her a cat-like grin. “Fancy. I mean, exciting. Bigger than here, at least.”

  “I don’t know. I think here is nice.” The barista brought their drinks over, placing a large cup in front of each of them. Brenna traced her fingers along the cup. “I wanted to reconnect with nature after years of studying. It’s beautiful and quiet here, and that’s what I wanted. I lived in a dorm with some other students during college, so it was always noisy.”